Chapter 742

Naomi drew in a small breath.

The way Cale said it sounded painful. As though the memories he spoke about had truly happened right in front of him.

As though he had personally witnessed all of it.

“So I really was troublesome even as a child?” she asked softly, trying to ease the tightness growing in her chest.

The corner of Cale’s lips lifted faintly. “You once made the entire house search for you just because you fell asleep under the table in the archive room.”

Naomi’s eyes widened instantly. “Seriously?”

“Everyone panicked.” Cale took another slow drink of water. “Your father almost ordered every guard to shut down the harbor that night.”

Naomi let out a spontaneous laugh.

And somehow, it was the lightest laugh that had escaped her since arriving in Hong Kong.

But the laughter slowly faded as she looked back at the man standing in front of her. There was something that had been bothering her ever since earlier that afternoon.

“Mr. Miller.”

“Hm?”

“Why are you still doing all of this?”

Cale frowned slightly.

“All the burdens connected to the Chen family.” Naomi looked directly at him. “Even though you could actually walk away anytime you wanted.”

The kitchen fell silent again, filled only with the faint sound of rain outside the windows.

Cale didn’t answer immediately.

He lowered his gaze for a moment, slowly turning the water bottle in his hand as though thinking about something buried deep in the past.

“I made a promise to someone once,” he finally said.

“To my father?”

Cale gave a small nod.

The look in Naomi’s eyes gradually changed.

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“Your father,” Cale’s voice grew much lower now, “was one of the people I respected most in my life.”

Naomi didn’t interrupt him.

And for the first time, she began seeing something different in the man standing before her. Cale wasn’t speaking as Chen Kailun right now.

Not as the ruler of Hong Kong’s underworld.

But as someone who was still carrying an enormous loss even now.

“Do you regret it?” Naomi asked softly. “Even though my father is already gone?”

The question left Cale silent for a long moment.

Slowly, his gaze lifted toward Naomi.

And for a brief second, Naomi felt something incredibly dark and lonely hidden inside his eyes.

“My deepest regret,” Cale said, his voice cold yet painfully honest, “is that I didn’t follow your father into the afterlife.”

Naomi’s breath caught instantly.

Cale let out a quiet laugh, but there was no warmth in it.

“He sent me away for reasons I didn’t understand at the time,” he continued softly. “And when I finally came back, everything had already happened.” His gaze lowered slightly. “Only after returning did I realize … if I had been there, I could’ve handled everything properly.”

Naomi slowly stiffened.

And only then did she truly realize something.

All this time, Cale had never lived for himself.

The man had been living while carrying the final wish of someone already dead.

And he had borne that burden alone for years.

“Mr. Miller…” Naomi’s voice weakened unconsciously.

But by then, Cale already looked calm again. As though he hadn’t just revealed the deepest wound he carried inside him only seconds earlier.

“There’s one more thing you need to start preparing for,” he finally said.

Naomi frowned slightly. “What?”

“You’re going to attend the Chen family’s grand gathering.”

Naomi’s heartbeat immediately quickened. “What?”

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+30 Bonus

“Everyone who still holds loyalty to the Chen family will be there.” Cale looked directly at her. “And it’s time they see the Chen family’s last heir with their own eyes.”

Naomi instantly lost her words.

Nervousness slowly tightened inside her chest.

“I don’t know how to face people like that.”

“You don’t need to do anything.”

“Then what?” Naomi looked at Cale, her eyes filled with worry.

Cale held her gaze for several seconds before answering calmly.

“You only need to stand beside me.”

Naomi still couldn’t calm the fear and anxiety rising inside her. “But-”

“I’ll protect you, Nao.”

Naomi’s brows furrowed deeply. “Nao?”

Cale stepped closer and gave her a light pat on the head.

“That’s the nickname I’ve called you for a long time.” A faint smile finally touched his lips. “You’re just the only one who doesn’t remember it.”

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